Refrigerating apparatus



' Oct. 20, 1931. L. M. KElGHLl-:Y 1,827,751

REFRIGERATNG APPARATUS Filed Nov. lO, 1926' M @MW/HMM www @Het nu?,

Patented Oct. 20, 12.931

LLOYD El. KEIGHLEY, OF DAYTON, OHIO,

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T

FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application filedtNovember 10, 1926. Serial No. 147,550.

This invention relates to cooling unitsfor mechanical refrigerators, and more particularly to cooling units which are adapted tol be installed in refrigerating cabinets of the household type. However, it is to be understood that the present invention may be vadapted for larger refrigerating cabinets of the commercial type.

'The present invention includes among its objects the provision of a cooling unit of simple and economical construction, which will quickly congeal or freeze substances which `are placed within a freezing comv.p artme'nt provided by the unit, and which will effectively cool the food compartment vof. 'the cabinet.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator cabinet with the doors open in order to show the food compartment and a coolingunit within a cooling compartment;

Fig. 2 isa view on a larger scale than Fig. 1, showing the front view of the vcooling unit which is suspended within vthe coolingv compartment ofla cabinet,-the walls of which are shown in vertical section;` and Fig. 3 isa side elevation of the coolingl l unit drawn to the same scale as Fig. 2.

Referring'to the drawings,` 20 designates lla' refrigerator cabinet which provides'an L- shaped food compartment 2l separated from a cooling compartment 22 by a horizontal partition 23 and .a vertical partition 24. The partition 24 is provided with a flue 25, admitting relativelywarm air from the food compartment 21 to the cooling compartment 22; and the partition 23 is provided with a flue 26, admitting cooled air from the compartment 22 to the compartment 2 1. The partition 23 supports a baille 27 which prevents moisture dripping from the cooling unit above from enterin the fiile 26. The batile 27 directs such moisture upon the up- 'per surface of the partition 23, and this ed to co-operate. with the header 30 to moisture is conductedl away through a drain pipe 28.

The cooling unit located within the coolheader 30 attached to the top wall of the cabinet bybracket members 31 and 32. Condensed refrigerant is conducted to the header 30 vfrom a compressor and condenser (not shown) through a pipe 33 and a tting 34. Refrigerant is admitted from the tting 34, as needed, by a float-controlled valve (not shown), of suitable construction, located within the header 30. Expanded refrigerant is conducted back to the compressor through a fitting 35v and a pipe 36. The refrigerating compressor and condenser with which the .pipes 33 and 36 are connected, may be located outside of the cabinet, if desired, or may be placed within a machine compartment located below the food compartment 21, said cornpartment having a removable front wall 37 provided with louvers 38;

A plurality of looped conduits 40 and 41 of metal of good thermal conductivity are connected with the header 30, and are arranged in horizontal rows, the row of loops 40 enclosing the row of loops 41. The loo s 40 are so located as to be almost entirely su ing compartment 22includes a boiler orl jected to the air which circulates adjacent l the cooling unit. The loops 41 each com rise a plurality of serpentine bends, the ben s of the vertical legs of the loops .41 being vertically superposed, and the bends of the yoke portion or bottom. portion of the loop being horizontally adjacent.' Preferably the serpentine loops are formed in the ducts 41 before the ducts are bent at the corners A, B, C and D to form structures which are adaptrovide a quick freezing space 42 belowptlie header.

By virtue of this construction a coolin unit is provided having what ma be termed a freezing zone formed by the ucts 41 for quickly freezing or congealing a substance, and, what may be termed a cooling zone formed by ducts 40 which ducts cool the circulating air to the desired temperature, not too cold for general refrigeration within the refrigerator. The freezing zone being nested within the cooling zone is protected thereby from the warming action of the air passing over the unit.

Usually the loops 41 are rst joined to the header and then one or more metal sleeves 43 are inserted in the space 42 and are thermally joined at their. side walls to the serpen-l tine bends of the loops 41. Due to the serpentine formation of the bottom or yoke portions of the loops 41, these loops may be spread or contracted to adjust the distance between the corner bends A and B so that the vertical branches of the,loops 41 can be made to fit snugly the side walls of the sleeves 43. The bottom walls of the bottom sleeve 43 may be thermally joined to the yokelportion of the loops 41 so as to increase the area of thermal contact between this sleeve and the loops. In this way thebottom sleeve may be subjected to lower temperature conditions than the other sleeves. The sleeves 43 receive metal trays 44 containing matter to be frozen.

Due to this serpentine configuration, the loops 41 provide not only relativelyl great area of thermal contact with the sleeves 43, but also provide wall portions of substantial area which protect the trays from warmer circulating air./ Frost which will quickly accumulate upon the loops 41, provide further insulation or isolation of the freezing space. During the idle period of the refrigerating machine, the loo s 40 may be defrosted under conditions o warm temperature surrounding the cabinet, but some frost will remain upon the coils 41 even under such conditions owing to the relatively great area of the coils 41 which is exposed to frosting. Thus the present invention provides for very rapid freezing of water or other substances, while providing adequately for cooling the air circulating within the cabinet.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising, a header, looped conduits depending from the header, a part of said conuits having tortuous branches and cooperating with the header to enclose a freezing space, the other conduits being spaced more remotely from the freezing space.

2. A cooling unit according to claim 1 in which the loops spaced more remotely from the freezing zone, have substantially straight branches.

3. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising, a header, looped conduits depending from said header, certain-y of said conduits having both branches provided with superposed, serpentine bends co-operating with the header to enclose a freezing space,

the other conduits being spaced more remotes ly from said freezing space.

4. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators adapted to be placed in the path of the medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising a set of duct loops providing a freezing zone, another set of duct loops providing a cooling zone, the material of the second set lying outwardly of ,the freezing zone in the path of the medium and so con-V structed and arranged as to provide a shield of heat exchange material for shielding,the freezing zone from the action of the circulating medium, the loops of one of said sets having upright branches having tortuous portions disposed longitudinally of the freezing zone.

5. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators adapted to be placed inthe path of the medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising duct loops having upright branches providing a freezing zone said branches having tortuous portions disposed longitudinally of the freezing zone, another duct loop providing a cooling zone, the material of the second duct loop lying outwardly of the freezing zone in the path of the medium and so constructed and arranged as to provide a shield of heat exchange material for shielding the freezing zone from the action of the circulating medium.

6. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators adapted to be placed in the path of the medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising a plurality of duct'floops certain of said loops having opposed upright tortuous branch portions cooperating to provide a freezing zone therebetween and certain other of said duct loops providing a cooling zone, the material of the second-mentioned portion lying outwardly of the freezing zone in the path of the medium and so constructed and arranged as to provide a shield of heat exchange material for shielding the freezing zone from the action of the circulating medium.

7. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators adapted to be placed in the path of the medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising duct means Vextending vertlcally to provide a freezing zone said branches having tortuous portions disposed longitudinally of the freezin zone, said cooling unit including heat exchange material formed to provide a cooling zone, said heat exchange material lying outwardly of at least three sides of the freezing zone in the path of the circulating medium and so constructed and arranged as to provide a shield of heat exchange material for shielding the freezing (zione from the action of the circulating melum.

8. A cooling lunit for mechanical refrigera- I sides of the sup ort and a connecting yoke intimate thermal contact with the opposite portion, said yo .e including a tortuousY rtion of flexible material for permitting ift ing of one branch with res ct to the other.

9. A cooling unit for mec anical refri rators comprising an ice tra sup ort, con uits ators comprising a header, depending each including opposed ranc ortions in' intimate thermal contact with t e opposite sides of the support and a connecting yoke portion, said yoke including a tortuous portion of iexble material lying alongside said support. l p

10. A cooling unit for mechanical refri eruct loops having the ends thereof connected with the header and havin the branches thereof spaced from one anot er to provide a freez- V ing zone therebetween and below the header,

certain of said branches havin tortuous por' tions lying/longitudinally o the freezing Zone.

11. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising an ice tray support, a header, depending duct loops having the ends thereof connected with the header and having the branches thereof spaced from one another to provide a freezing zone therebetween and below the header, certain of said branches having tortuous portions l g longitudinally of the freezingzone an in intimate thermal contact with said support.

12. A cooling unit for vmechanical refrigerators comprising a header, dependin duct loops having the ends thereof connecte with the header, the opposed branches of the loops Eoviding a freezin zone therebetween and low the header, said opposed branches having tortuous portions lymgIlongitudinally of the freezing zone.

, In testimony whereof Iihereto aix my signature; v

` LLOYD M. KEIGHLEY. 

